The primary Microsoft certification paths were brought up to date some years ago, as they transferred from the earlier 'MCAD'/'MCSD' ('Microsoft Certified Application/Solutions Developer') to the more recent 'MCTS' (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) and MCPD (Microsoft Certified Professional Developer) exams. Look to study for two pre requisite MCTS certifications prior to getting into the MCPD. If you are not used to the industry and haven't ever programmed before, (although the 1st module from MS is branded a foundation unit,) we'd say it's smart to take a programming introduction-course first. It's also normally a good idea to gain a 'support' qualification prior to both of them, so that a fair idea of software-environments & software support may be gained. It will in addition aid in obtaining your very first job in the I.T. sector. You should commonly calculate for your studies to take a year to a year and a half if you're getting into an entire career track and doing it part time. The specific amount of study time is six to seven hundred hours given average circumstances.

Finding your first job in the industry is often made easier with a Job Placement Assistance service. Because of the massive skills shortage in this country today, it's not necessary to get too caught up in this feature though. It isn't so complicated as you might think to secure a job once you're properly qualified.

CV and Interview advice and support might be provided (if not, see one of our sites for help). It's essential that you update that dusty old CV straight away - don't leave it till you pass the exams! Quite frequently, you will get your initial job whilst still on the course (even in the early stages). If your CV doesn't say what you're learning (and it isn't in the hands of someone with jobs to offer) then you aren't even in the running! You'll normally experience quicker results from a specialist locally based employment agency than you'll experience from any training provider's employment division, as they'll know the local area and commercial needs better.

Fundamentally, if you put the same amount of effort into getting your first job as into training, you're not going to hit many challenges. A number of trainees inexplicably put hundreds of hours into their learning program and just give up once certified and seem to expect employers to find them.

It's essential to have the latest Microsoft (or relevant organisation's) authorised simulation materials and exam preparation packages. Some students can get thrown by practising exam questions that are not from official sources. Often, the way questions are phrased is startlingly different and you should be prepared for this. Why don't you test your depth of understanding by doing quizzes and practice in simulated exam environments to prepare you for taking the actual exam.

At its lowest level then, we can say programming is merely communicating to an electronic device how to do its task by using specific languages. This is obviously a massively 'dumbed down' explanation of it. At the level of a 'Windows' desktop computer, there are probably around one hundred different programs which are running behind the scenes, all maintaining the system and allowing you to actually do things. PC's in essence run on 2 different types of software program - the operating system is low-level, and the 'applications' run by the operating system are higher level. 'Windows' from MS is probably the operating-system many of us are familiar with. This is a hugely complex suite of programs which work with each other and control your desktop space, how you inter-act with it, all of the storage-mediums & internet access, together with all the devices which are connected to the Computer.

In amongst the top nominees for the biggest issue to be got round across all IT training can be attending multi-day workshops. A lot of training academies harp on about the positive points of taking part in these events, it's almost certain though that you'll find them a burden to be carried because of:

- Loads of visits to the workshop centre - often hundreds of miles.

- Taking time off work - typical colleges provide Mon-Fri class availability - typically grouping 2 or 3 days together. To be honest, this doesn't suit working people, especially when travel time is included.

- Lost annual leave - a lot of employed people only get 4 weeks annual leave. If half or more of that is used up by study events, vacation time is going to be quite short for students and their families.

- 'In-Centre' days normally end up far too big.

- There is often tension inside the classroom where most students want to move at a pace comfortable for them.

- Many students report that the (not inconsiderable) costs of travelling back and forth to the facility whilst paying for accommodation and food can get very high.

- You should never risk any chance of letting yourself be ignored for potential advancement or pay-rises because your employer knows you're retraining.

- Don't think it's unusual for students not to pose the question that's bugging them - purely because they're amongst other classmates.

- For those of us who need to occasionally work elsewhere in the country for several days at a time, consider the added problems of travelling to the needed workshops, when time-off becomes even harder to obtain.

Wouldn't it be better to watch a video and be trained by tutors one-to-one in pre-made lessons, working on them when it's convenient for you, not someone else. Ponder this... With a notebook PC you have the ability to learn in any location you choose. And live 24 hr-a-day support is an online click away in case of difficulty. Forget taking notes - everything is prepared in advance for you. Anything you want to do over, it's all right there. While there's no way this can avoid all study problems, it surely removes stress and makes things simpler. You also have reduced costs, travel and hassle.

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